Comedy legend Barry Cryer and BBC Radio 4 pianist Colin Sell are taking to the stage to celebrate Greenwich Theatre’s 50th Anniversary

Comedy legend Barry Cryer and BBC Radio 4 pianist Colin Sell are taking to the stage in Greenwich to help celebrate Greenwich Theatre’s 50th anniversary.

For one night only, on September 15, the comedy pair will host Kitty Kelly’s Music Hall, an old-school variety show at Greenwich Theatre, taking the theatre back to its original roots.

Founded in 1864 as a traditional music hall venue, Greenwich Theatre entertained hundreds of thousands of Londoners over the next 80 years.

A Second World War bomb saw the theatre shuttered in the 1940s, but it reopened again in autumn 1969.

Now, 50 years on since that day, legendary comedy writer and performer Barry Cryer and I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue piano player Colin Sell are heading to Greenwich to reignite the
music hall flame.

Mr Cryer will play chairman for the event, hosting a fundraising evening of entertainment that will include comedy, variety, singing and dance.

Mr Cryer said: “I’m delighted to be hosting Kitty Kelly’s Music Hall at Greenwich Theatre, and look forward to helping celebrate the theatre’s 50th anniversary that evening.

“Music Hall is a neglected art these days, but revivals like this offer us all the opportunity to experience theatre and performance as it was back in the old days.

“I know anything can happen on stage at a Music Hall performance – and anything probably will.”

Colin Sell said: “I always enjoy performing at the Greenwich Theatre.

I’ve done it many times before, and it is always different, and always a good show.

Greenwich Theatre’s roots are in Music Hall, so it will be fantastic to be back again to mark 50 years of this wonderful venue.”

Performers on the night will include specialist Music Hall singer Colette Kelly, a cast member of the original 1968 musical Hair, cabaret artist Stefan Bednarczyk, soprano June Shand, banjo player Steve Galler, high-kicking singer Miss Molly Diver and local choir the Centenary Ensemble.

Topping the bill will be Peter John – labelled a legend by The Stage newspaper, he is one of the UK’s Music Hall greats.